Judge Merchan tries to defend himself after Trump sentencing - but he and Bragg are responsible for this monster

[Leroy N. Soetoro]

https://nypost.com/2025/01/10/opinion/judge-merchan-tries-to-defend-
himself-after-trump-sentencing-but-he-and-bragg-are-responsible-for-this-
monster/

On Friday, the sentencing of President-elect Donald Trump saw one of the
most impassioned defense arguments given at such a hearing in years … from
the judge himself.

Acting Justice Juan Merchan admitted that the case was “unique and
remarkable” but insisted that “once the courtroom doors were closed, the
trial itself was no more special, unique, and extraordinary than the other
32 cases in this courthouse.”

If so, that is a damning indictment of the entire New York court system.
Merchan allowed a dead misdemeanor to be resuscitated by allowing
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to effectively prosecute declined
federal offenses.

He allowed a jury to convict Trump without any agreement, let alone
unanimity, on what actually occurred in the case.

Merchan ruled that the jury did not have to agree on why Trump committed
an alleged offense in describing settlement costs as legal costs.

Neither the defendant nor the public will ever know what the jury
ultimately found in its verdict.

I once described this case as a legal Frankenstein: “It is the ultimate
gravedigger charge, where Bragg unearthed a case from 2016 and, through a
series of novel steps, is seeking to bring it back to life … Bragg is
combining parts from both state and federal codes.”

Even liberal legal experts have denounced the case and Sen. John Fetterman
(D-Pa.) recently called it total “bulls–t.”

Now, Merchan seemed quick to assure this Frankenstein case was just like
any other creature of the court. It did not matter that it was stitched
together from dead cases and zapped into life through lawfare.

Merchan knows that there is a fair chance this monstrosity will finally
die on appeal, and he was making the case for his own conduct.

The verdict, however, is likely to last far longer than the Trump verdict.
It is a judgment against not just Merchan but the New York legal system,
which allowed itself to be weaponized against political opponents.

Trump can now appeal the case as a whole. Prior appeals in the New York
court system were unsuccessful, and hopes are low that the system will
redeem itself.

However, Trump can eventually escape the vortex of the New York court
system in search of jurists willing to see beyond the rage and bring
reason to this case.

Merchan’s monster will now go on the road and work its way back to the
Supreme Court. Outside of New York, this freak attraction will likely be
viewed as less thrilling than chilling.

Lawfare is that monster. It threatens us all, even those who hate Trump
and his supporters. Once released, it spreads panic among the public,
which can no longer rely on the guarantees of blind and fair justice.

That includes businesses that view this case and the equally absurd civil
case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James as creating a
dangerous and even lawless environment. Many are saying “There but for the
grace of God go I” in a system that allows for selective prosecution.

Many will be blamed as the creators of this monster but few will escape
that blame, including Merchan himself.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George
Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free
Speech in an Age of Rage.”
--
November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump. We look
forward to America being great again.

The disease known as Kamala Harris has been effectively treated and
eradicated.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.

Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.

Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.

[pothead]

Post by Leroy N. Soetoro
https://nypost.com/2025/01/10/opinion/judge-merchan-tries-to-defend-
himself-after-trump-sentencing-but-he-and-bragg-are-responsible-for-this-
monster/
On Friday, the sentencing of President-elect Donald Trump saw one of the
most impassioned defense arguments given at such a hearing in years … from
the judge himself.
Acting Justice Juan Merchan admitted that the case was “unique and
remarkable” but insisted that “once the courtroom doors were closed, the
trial itself was no more special, unique, and extraordinary than the other
32 cases in this courthouse.”
If so, that is a damning indictment of the entire New York court system.
Merchan allowed a dead misdemeanor to be resuscitated by allowing
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to effectively prosecute declined
federal offenses.
He allowed a jury to convict Trump without any agreement, let alone
unanimity, on what actually occurred in the case.
Merchan ruled that the jury did not have to agree on why Trump committed
an alleged offense in describing settlement costs as legal costs.
Neither the defendant nor the public will ever know what the jury
ultimately found in its verdict.
I once described this case as a legal Frankenstein: “It is the ultimate
gravedigger charge, where Bragg unearthed a case from 2016 and, through a
series of novel steps, is seeking to bring it back to life … Bragg is
combining parts from both state and federal codes.”
Even liberal legal experts have denounced the case and Sen. John Fetterman
(D-Pa.) recently called it total “bulls–t.”
Now, Merchan seemed quick to assure this Frankenstein case was just like
any other creature of the court. It did not matter that it was stitched
together from dead cases and zapped into life through lawfare.
Merchan knows that there is a fair chance this monstrosity will finally
die on appeal, and he was making the case for his own conduct.
The verdict, however, is likely to last far longer than the Trump verdict.
It is a judgment against not just Merchan but the New York legal system,
which allowed itself to be weaponized against political opponents.
Trump can now appeal the case as a whole. Prior appeals in the New York
court system were unsuccessful, and hopes are low that the system will
redeem itself.
However, Trump can eventually escape the vortex of the New York court
system in search of jurists willing to see beyond the rage and bring
reason to this case.
Merchan’s monster will now go on the road and work its way back to the
Supreme Court. Outside of New York, this freak attraction will likely be
viewed as less thrilling than chilling.
Lawfare is that monster. It threatens us all, even those who hate Trump
and his supporters. Once released, it spreads panic among the public,
which can no longer rely on the guarantees of blind and fair justice.
That includes businesses that view this case and the equally absurd civil
case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James as creating a
dangerous and even lawless environment. Many are saying “There but for the
grace of God go I” in a system that allows for selective prosecution.
Many will be blamed as the creators of this monster but few will escape
that blame, including Merchan himself.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George
Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free
Speech in an Age of Rage.”

If the NYS appeals court has any modicum of honesty, this verdict will be
tossed out.
There is a laundry list of items that can be appealed.

[Siri Cruise]

Post by pothead
If the NYS appeals court has any modicum of honesty, this verdict will be
tossed out.

You elected the judges not myself.

[Rudy Canoza]

Post by pothead

Post by Leroy N. Soetoro
https://nypost.com/2025/01/10/opinion/judge-merchan-tries-to-defend-
himself-after-trump-sentencing-but-he-and-bragg-are-responsible-for-this-
monster/
On Friday, the sentencing of President-elect Donald Trump saw one of the
most impassioned defense arguments given at such a hearing in years … from
the judge himself.
Acting Justice Juan Merchan admitted that the case was “unique and
remarkable” but insisted that “once the courtroom doors were closed, the
trial itself was no more special, unique, and extraordinary than the other
32 cases in this courthouse.”
If so, that is a damning indictment of the entire New York court system.
Merchan allowed a dead misdemeanor to be resuscitated by allowing
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to effectively prosecute declined
federal offenses.
He allowed a jury to convict Trump without any agreement, let alone
unanimity, on what actually occurred in the case.
Merchan ruled that the jury did not have to agree on why Trump committed
an alleged offense in describing settlement costs as legal costs.
Neither the defendant nor the public will ever know what the jury
ultimately found in its verdict.
I once described this case as a legal Frankenstein: “It is the ultimate
gravedigger charge, where Bragg unearthed a case from 2016 and, through a
series of novel steps, is seeking to bring it back to life … Bragg is
combining parts from both state and federal codes.”
Even liberal legal experts have denounced the case and Sen. John Fetterman
(D-Pa.) recently called it total “bulls–t.”
Now, Merchan seemed quick to assure this Frankenstein case was just like
any other creature of the court. It did not matter that it was stitched
together from dead cases and zapped into life through lawfare.
Merchan knows that there is a fair chance this monstrosity will finally
die on appeal, and he was making the case for his own conduct.
The verdict, however, is likely to last far longer than the Trump verdict.
It is a judgment against not just Merchan but the New York legal system,
which allowed itself to be weaponized against political opponents.
Trump can now appeal the case as a whole. Prior appeals in the New York
court system were unsuccessful, and hopes are low that the system will
redeem itself.
However, Trump can eventually escape the vortex of the New York court
system in search of jurists willing to see beyond the rage and bring
reason to this case.
Merchan’s monster will now go on the road and work its way back to the
Supreme Court. Outside of New York, this freak attraction will likely be
viewed as less thrilling than chilling.
Lawfare is that monster. It threatens us all, even those who hate Trump
and his supporters. Once released, it spreads panic among the public,
which can no longer rely on the guarantees of blind and fair justice.
That includes businesses that view this case and the equally absurd civil
case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James as creating a
dangerous and even lawless environment. Many are saying “There but for the
grace of God go I” in a system that allows for selective prosecution.
Many will be blamed as the creators of this monster but few will escape
that blame, including Merchan himself.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George
Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free
Speech in an Age of Rage.”

If the NYS appeals court has any modicum of honesty,

Preparation for pothole's "no true Scotsman" bullshit.

Post by pothead
this verdict will be tossed out.

There was no error in the trial to be appealed. The trial and the verdict were
both rock-solie.

Post by pothead
There is a laundry list of items that can be appealed.

There are none, and you're not a lawyer and can't speak to that intelligently.
You're a partisan — only.